Sneezing doll



7, 6 M. I. GLASS E SNEEZ ING DOLL Filed. March 16, 1966 5 .RS 4 T ma W 9 M M United States Patent 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A doll having relatively movable head and arms which are interconnected and operable to provide a sequence of motions for said parts, so that the doll is caused to appear to be sneezing. As one arm is manually lifted, it causes the head to move rearwardly and then forwardly in an abrupt fashion. As the head is thus moved forwardly, the other arm is automatically raised to place the hand adjacent the face to appear as though the 'doll is smothering the sneeze. There is also a noimmaker within the doll which operates as the head moves forwardly.

The present invention relates generally to dolls, and more particularly to a doll which, by suitable manipulation will simulate a sneeze.

Dolls are a perennial source of amusement and satisfaction for children, and this is probably so because manufacturers constantly strive to produce more interesting and realistic dolls. For example, a simple noise maker actuated by tilting the doll or squeezing the dolls torso is very common, and some go so far as to clearly enunciate the word mama. Sneezing is a very common reaction in small children, and the present invention provides a doll simulating a small child, and provides a realistic sneezing action when the doll is manipulated in a certain way.

It is, therefore, the primary object of this invention to provide a new and amusing doll. Another object is to provide a new and amusing doll realistically simulating a small child in the throes of a fit of sneezing. A related object is the provision of such a doll in which the sneezing is associated with a realistic action of the doll in using a handkerchief. A related object is the provision of new and useful mechanism for operating such a doll.

These and other objects are more particularly set forth in the following detailed description of the selected embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, 'wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a doll embodying the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a similar view showing the doll in the act of using its handkerchief;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary, cross-sectional view of the torso of the doll taken from the front and showing the internal mechanism;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the torso taken on the line 44 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a similar view showing the parts in position to begin the sneezing cycle;

FIGURE 5A is a fragmentary perspective view of certain mechanism indicated in FIGURES 3 to 6, showing the parts in a position corresponding to that indicated in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 5, showing the mechanism in a position about to complete the sneezing cycle;

FIGURE 6A is a fragmentary perspective view of certain mechanism indicated in FIGURES 3 to 6, showing the parts in a position corresponding to that indicated in FIGURE 6; and

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURES 5A and 6A,

but showing the parts in a position they will occupy just as the sneeze takes place.

The invention is in brief directed to a doll operable for simulating a young child having a tendency to sneeze, and to various features thereof. The doll preferably emits a sound similar to that of a sneeze, |while suffering spasmodic movements of the head and moving one of the arms in a natural manner to smother the sneeze in a handkerchief.

Basically the doll has a body 10, a head 12, a left arm 14, a right arm 16 and legs 18, which latter are not essential to the invention and need not be further described. Any appropriate dress 20 may be placed on the figure. The body may be made of any suitable material, preferably somewhat rigid, since it is convenient to rely upon it to support certain parts of the mechanism in their proper relations, although it is contemplated that other expedients might be used to maintain these relations, whereupon the body could be more flexible if desired. Body 10 is preferably made with a front section 22 and a rear section 24, as seen in FIGURE 4, so that it is convenient to assemble the internal parts in section 24 and then apply section 22 as a cover, holding it in place in any suitable or well-known manner.

Left arm 14 has a shoulder joint portion 26 jou-rnaled in a suitable opening formed between sections 22 and 24 of body 10, and a flange 28 disposed within body 10 guides shank 26 and prevents inadvertent removal of arm 14. A cam plate 30 is fixed in relation to arm 14, being fastened in any suitable manner to flange 28 so as to turn therewith, for a purpose to appear, when am 14 is swung up and down.

A two-part shaft generally designated as 32 is composed of a portion 34 fixed in cam plate 30 so as to turn therewith. In similar manner, a portion 36 is fixed in a cam plate 38 fixed to a flange 40 on a shoulder joint 42 freely journaled in body 10 and forming a part of right arm 16-. Portions 34 and 36 are joined by a swivel portion. characterized by a generally cylindrical sleeve 44 which receives portion '34 rotatably therein and is constituted to keep portions 34 and 36 in alignmentlwith each other while at the same time providing for independent rocking or rotary movement therebetween. Tlius one arm may move independently of the other. Furthermore, the independent por. tions of the shafts 34 and 36 are prevented from shifting axially by their attachment to cam plates 30 and 38 respectively. Shaft portions 34 and 36 ar-e preferably made of angular cross section for dependably imparting rocking movement to other parts as will appear, portion 34- being rotatable within cylindrical sleeve 44, even though angular in cross section.

Swinging movement of arm 14 (which acts as an actuating lever or handle) causes rocking of shaft portion 34, which in turn causes a spasmodic movement of head 12. For this purpose head 12 is pivoted on a pin 46 journaled in neck portions 45, so that it may nod forwardly and backwardly, and it has an actuating plate or element 48 which extends downwardly within body 10 to perform a variety of functions. More particularly, a generally hemispherical section 47, disposed in fixed relation to the upper end of plate 48, is fitted into the lower portion of the dolls head and includes axially aligned openings receiving the pin 46. A spring 50 is extended in tension between a lower portion of actuating plate 48 and an anchorage 52 within the lower portion of body 10, and byits continuous pull this spring tends to yieldingly maintain alignment of itself and plate 48, which corresponds to an upright or normal position of head 12. Consequently, if the head 12 or plate 48 is displaced about pivot pin 46, spring 54) will tend to return them to normal position.

The head is displaced and released by the action of left arm 14 as follows. Shaft portion 34 has fixed thereon a latch-like actuating finger 54 which, in the position of the parts shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, extends upwardly and forwardly of an actuated latch element 56. Element 56 has its exposed side surface 56a inclined forwardly, so that rearward movement of finger 54 from the position seen in FIGURE 4 causes finger 54 to flex and move across such surface and finally position itself in engagement with the rear edge of element 56, as seen in FIG- URES and 6. In this regard, finger 54 is preferably of a resilient metal to accommodate the required flexing of the upper end of such element as it is cammed away from plate 48 by the incline element 56. In the illustrated embodiment, finger 54 comprises one flange of a U-shaped member including a web 66 extending along the length of shaft portion 34 and ending at its other end in an upturned flange portion 68 also engaged with shaft portion 34.

Arm 14, when raised causes backward or clockwise movement, as seen in FIGURE 4, of finger 54. By reason of this movement, the upper portion of finger 54 moves across surface 56a and then engages the rear of latch element 56. The parts are then in the position shown in FIGURE 5. Lowering of left arm 14 will cause counterclockwise movement of finger 54, which will push against latch 56 and cause clockwise rotation of plate 48 and head 12 about pin 46. This will draw the head back as is commonly inadvertently done just prior to a sneeze. An instant later point portion 64 on the upper end of finger 54 will escape from latch element 56, as is about to happen in FIGURE 6, whereupon spring 50 will return plate 48 and head 12 to their normal positions with a snap, approximately as happens in a real person.

As plate 48 approaches its normal position, a lower point portion 72 thereon encounters an end plate portion 74 of a bellows unit 76, which is quickly compressed by the motion of plate 48. A noise maker such as reed 78 is activated by the resulting putf of air therethrough from the bellows, and is constituted to simulate a sneezing sound. Bellows 76 is biased to expand when released, either by its own resiliency or by reason of a suitable spring not shown.

The mechanism so far described will produce a simulated sneezing action of the doll, but still further realism can be achieved if a handkerchief is used. For this effect, right arm 16 is bent at the elbow and carries a handkerchief 80 so positioned that swinging of the arm, as provided for by joint 42, will move handkerchief 80 into the vicinity of the dolls nose. Above described plate 48 carries a pin 82 which engages a finger 84 rigid with and extending downwardly from sleeve portion 44 which is rigid with shaft portion 36. Clockwise movement of plate 48 will therefore displace finger 84 and cause clockwise movement of shaft portion 36, and accordingly of right arm 16, as seen from the right in FIGURES l and 2. This will place handkerchief 80 at the dolls nose, but it is to be noted that the head, as previously pointed out, is tilted back at this time so that the arm must go a little farther than it would with the head in normal position, and the parts are so proportioned that arm 16 will be raised to the necessary extreme position immediately before plate 48 and head 12 are released. The sudden release of plate 48, however, unless prevented, would equally suddenly release finger 84 and allow arm 16 to drop in an unnatural manner, and detent means is provided to avoid such unnatural action.

A crank-like, detent element generally designated as 86, best seen in FIGURE 3, is provided and journaled for rocking movement in bearing brackets 88, spaced apart and fixed to rear section 24 of body 10. It may be made, for convenience, of stiff wire, having one bent end portion 90 engaged with cam plate 38 and the opposite end portion 92 engaged with cam plate 30. An offset portion 100 of crank 86 is connected to a spring 102 anchored to a bracket 104 fixed on rear section 24 above portion 100, so that the pull of the spring urges end portions and 92 into contact with their respective cam plates 38 and 30. Cam plate 38 has closely spaced notches 106 and 108 in its periphery, as best seen in FIGURE 5A, notch 106 being so placed that keeper portion 90 will be yieldingly engaged with it by the action of spring 102 when arm 16 is raised by the rotation of shaft portion 36 to its extreme upper position. The handkerchief will then be at the dolls nose with the head tilted back. As the sneezing action takes place the sudden forward movement of the head will contact the handkerchief and the portion of arm 16 holding it, and force it forward and down. This movement will dislodge keeper 90 from notch 106, whereupon the keeper will find a seat in notch 108, which is positioned to hold arm 16 in position to maintain the handkerchief in contact with the nose in the new position of head 12. Arm 16 therefore moves in a natural manner to continue to smother the sneeze and to wipe the nose.

Movement of arm 14 rotates cam plate 30, which, up to this time has had no function except to communicate the rotation of arm 14 to shaft portion 34. However, continued downward movement of arm 14 rotates cam plate 30 to a point where a cam ramp portion 112, FIG- URE 5A, depresses follower portion 92, rocking detent portion 6 as a whole, and shifting keeper 90 out of notch 108 and clear of cam plate 38, so that arm 16 is free to drop by gravity to the position shown in FIGURE 1.

It is to be noted that portion 110 between notches 106 and 108 does not extend all the way to the periphery of cam plate 38, and which makes possible a repetition of the sneezing action without lowering right arm 16. As previously described, arm 16, just prior to the sneeze is raised to the point where keeper 90 engages notch 106. As long as arm 14 is not lowered sufliciently to make cam portion 112 engage and press against follower 92, and thereby force follower 90 out of notch 106 or 108, the sneezing action can be repeated as often as desired by raising and then only partially lowering arm 14. This action will cause finger 54 to engage latch 56 and tilt the head and release it and will operate the noise maker 78, but the engagement of follower 90 with notch 106 or 108 will be retained. The release of pressure on finger 84 at the end of each sneeze allows movement between the two notches but does not permit the arm 16 to fall. The latter occurs only when cam 112 forces element 86 sufficiently forward to disengage follower 90 from plate 38.

To summarize the operation of the doll, it is noted that the left arm 14 is the operating element or handle. As a child raises the arm, finger 54, rotated by this movement, displaces and gets behind latch 56. As arm 14 is now lowered, finger 54 engages latch 56 and swings it and actuating plate 48 forwardly, thus tilting head backwardly. At the same time action of plate 48 swings finger 84 and, through shaft portion 36, causes raising of right arm 16. At a predetermined point latch 56 escapes from finger 54 and spring 50 snaps plate 48 and head 12 back to a substantially vertical position, plate 48 engaging bellows 76 on the way, to produce a sneezing sound. In the meantime keeper 90 has engaged notch 108 in cam plate 38 to prevent arm 16 from dropping prematurely in an unnatural manner. Upon completion of the downward movement of arm 14, cam 112 depresses element 86 and keeper 90 moves out of notch 106, so that arm 16 may drop by gravity into its lower or normal position.

While this invention has been described with reference to certain features, structure and material in a particular environment, it will be apparent that various modifications might be made without departing from the principles of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A doll comprising a body, a head movably mounted on said body by means including a part depending from said head into said body, a pair of arms mounted on said body for movement relative thereto, means interconnecting said arms comprising a first shaft fixed to one of said arms adjacent the joint thereof with said body, a second shaft fixed to the other of said arms adjacent the joint thereof with said body, said first and second shafts extending into said body, camming means on said first shaft which is operable to engage said depending part on said head and effect forward and rearward movement thereof in response to swinging of said one arm comprising a radial extension on said second shaft and a projection on said depending part, cooperable elements on said second shaft and said depending part which are effective to produce upward swinging movement of said other arm in response to said movement of said depending part by said camrning means, said camming means and said cooperable elements being arranged so that as said one arm is moved manually it causes said head to move rearwardly, raises said other arm to a position adjacent said head, and causes said head to move abruptly forwardly, to thereby simulate a sneezing action, and a noisemaker in said doll in position for operation in response to movement of said depending part.

2. A doll as set forth in claim 1, including spring biasing means yieldably holding said depending part in a position such that said head is generally erect, and said camming means comprises cooperable parts on said first shaft and on said dependin-g part which are elfective, in

response to movement or said one arm, to positively move said head rearwardly and tension said spring biasing means, through engagement of said cooperable parts, and thereafter said parts become disengaged and release said depending part for abrupt rearward movement under the biasing of said spring means to move said head forwardly.

3. A doll as set forth in claim 2, wherein said noisemaker comprises a bellows in said body positioned for actuation by said depending part as the latter moves rearwardly under the biasing action of said spring means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,140,651 5/1915 Aronson 46-118 1,576,789 3 /1926 Robertson 46-119 1,586,444 5/1926 Griewank 46-119 1,730,854 10/ 1929 Lloyd 46-118 2,137,371 11/1938 Marsh 46-120 2,198,234 4/ 1940 Stratton 46-141 XR LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner.

S. NATTER, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,419,994 January 7, 1969 Marvin I. Glass et al.

It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 5, lines 9 to 11, cancel "comprising a radial extension on said second shaft and a projection on said depending part" and insert the same after "part" in line 12, same column 5.

Signed and sealed this 17th day of March 1970.

(SEAL) Att est:

WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR.

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer 

